City Council made quick work of its public business at the Tuesday, Aug. 16, meeting. That may have been at least partly due to the councilors’ knowledge that they would face five executive (closed) sessions later.
Mayor John Graham acknowledged that was a lot to ask of City Council, but pointed out that some agenda items are planned months in advance while others crop up suddenly and need swift action.
The evening’s first major topic was discussing the beer and wine liquor license for Persephone Grae’s Café, in the Barker House at 819 Manitou Ave. Council acts as the local liquor licensing authority.
City Clerk Judy Morgan explained the process for application, which included a petition for support and need. Lyman Anderson, the café’s owner and chef, submitted 31 signatures from residents stating they support his plans.
Morgan quoted Anderson’s application: “I found that Manitou residents are excited for a new location to enjoy homemade food, fresh juices and craft drinks. We plan on offering a different atmosphere than some of the other restaurants in the area.”
Anderson cited his experience at the Townhouse Sports Grill and the Cliff House.
“I have been in Manitou for a long time, so I know a lot of the locals. Maybe we’ve seen a couple of you around before. And I love this place,” he said.
Councilors had no questions for Anderson, so residents supporting his request spoke next. They included Craig Miller, whose family has lived in Manitou since 1935.
“He is one of the best guys, one of the smartest guys I know. One of the best cooks I know. Him going into the Barker house was a great thing,” Miller said.
Anderson reassured council that he’s planning to close the café at 8 p.m. or earlier.
“This isn’t going to be a ‘two o’clock in the morning, rowdy people waking people up with loud music’ situation,” he said. “Much more calm. Red wine, nice craft beers, good ambiance.”
Council members approved Anderson’s application 6 to 0. Councilor Julie Wolfe, who was watching remotely and joined late, abstained.
Next, city engineer Dole Grebenik and consultant Susan Watkins presented a Hiawatha Gardens Task Force update about its July 11 community forum.
Watkins explained it was organized so the roughly 30 participants could break into small groups and hear various perspectives on plans to remodel and repurpose the historic building on Old Man’s Trail.
“We just want to give you an update of where the draft preferred plan sits right now. Some of the key elements, a lot of the details have not been identified yet,” Grebenik said.
Council members viewed a floor plan that would incorporate elements the community is requesting, such as public bathrooms and the city parking office.
“This effort was about entrances, exits, layouts, bathrooms, plazas, mobility areas, things like that,” Grebenik said.
He added that response has been overwhelmingly positive about plans for the building’s south end, which could offer approximately 20 seats overlooking Fountain Creek.
Grebenik said that he and the task force consulted Meghan Weiss, the city’s events coordinator, about how Manitou’s spaces are used.
Weiss told them that many people request a “prep room,” where musicians could prepare for their performance, for instance. The current preliminary floor plan would include that.
Watkins expanded on feedback from the July 11 meeting.
“People said they liked the balance of uses and the variety of elements in the plan and how they all work together,” she said. “People see it as a gathering area and they see it as an amenity that will build community.”
The discussion moved on to the building’s maximum occupancy, traffic flow concerns from nearby residents, parking lot capacity and potential runoff to the creek. Watkins talked about additional community input and pursuing grants.
Depending on funding, Phase 1 of construction could begin in 2023.
Grebenik spoke about steps that are needed no matter what the final plans are for the building.
“We’re planning to go ahead with a topographical site survey, right-of-way delineation, a geotechnical analysis and understand how we sit within the floodplain,” Grebenik said.
“Then, when the decision is finally made on the site layout and locations, all the critical engineering information is available.”
Graham asked for more definitive information about what various building elements will cost and the city’s potential return on investment.
More information: www.manitouspringsgov.com/412/_Hiawatha-Gardens.
Bob Longmire of Public Sector Personnel Consultants presented an evaluation of salaries for Manitou’s fire and police departments.
“When I looked at the average years of experience that your employees have, every rank of your employees has a higher average experience than the minimum requirements out there in the market for that rank,” Longmire said.
He recommended that the city spend about $18,000 annually to increase firefighters’ salaries and about $23,000 annually for police department salaries.
Fire Chief John K. Forsett stepped to the podium to express his support for the recommended increases.
“It was always my hope that we support these folks in a compensation package that does recognize that longevity,” he said.
Police Chief Bill Otto echoed Forsett’s sentiments, adding that, “Our officers generally love working in Manitou and this helps keep them here.”
Council approved the proposed compensation package by 6 to 0.
Senior Planner Chelsea Stromberg reviewed plans to pursue grants for a new city water tank, which would hold treated water while the original tank undergoes maintenance, remodel City Hall’s planning and parking offices, and stabilize one corner of the police station.
“Both projects, the remodel and the water tank, are currently funded and identified in the Capital Improvement Plan. And applying for these grants will leverage those already allocated funds to bring in additional funding from the state,” Stromberg said.
Council voted — no surprise — 6 to 0 to approve applications for grants.
Council then moved into executive session. The topics were: purchase of a particular property for public purposes; developing strategies and protocols for negotiations; conferring with the city attorney regarding legal standards for an executive session involving a personnel matter; conferring with the attorney concerning potential litigation; and procedures for a personnel matter.
A special session is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23, when City Council will meet jointly with the Manitou Springs Urban Renewal Authority board.